France’s Le Pen and Mélenchon cheer Swedish election result

PARIS — French leaders on the far right and far left weighed in on the result of Sweden's parliamentary election, applauding the disruption of mainstream parties — albeit for different reasons.

"Another bad evening for the European Union in the works," wrote Marine Le Pen on Twitter. The leader of the far-right National Rally added a red-cheeked, smiley face emoji.

"Victory against the extreme right in #Sweden. And our Swedish ally in the European coalition #NowThePeople made gains and reached 10%," wrote Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed movement. (His coalition partner actually received 7.9 percent of the votes and 8 percent of parliamentary seats.)

Combined, Sweden's far-right Sweden Democrats and far-left Left Party improved their vote share by 6.9 percent from the previous election in 2014.

The exultations come as French party leaders attempt to forge their campaign narratives ahead of the 2019 European election. Fewer than nine months from the ballot, French parties are signaling how they plan to energize voters for what is traditionally France's lowest-turnout election.

Le Pen and Mélenchon could be using the Swedish vote to create a sense of momentum, after an underwhelming finish in the June 2017 legislative election.

Irene Duym

Who cares about them? There are not worth one single line of an article. A former far-right activist who is accused of misusing public funds and suddenly interested in socialism and a communist anarchist, both of them vomiting stupidities for the sake to exist and destabilise. No interest. Political dwarfs. Both of them should learn how to work to do a living.

Posted on 9/10/18 | 1:57 PM CET

lib crit

Lepen and Melenchon: Putin’s useful idiots in France.

Posted on 9/10/18 | 2:19 PM CET

florin silberman

@Irene Duym,
“.. how to work to do a living…”
You don’t do a living, you earn a living.
How disappointing: I expected a comment about Trump interfering in the Swedish elections. How could you abstain.
Now you can start preparing your house to receive as guests some migrants from Sweden because no matter which party or parties get to form the government, all politicians have understood that the situation cannot continue as it is now.